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this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2024
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What does that GPS display? A direction?
A direction and coordinates most likely. You can use the paper map for the rest. It makes sense in some scenarios, mostly doesn't anymore.
Most of the ones I've seen actually had a map but the problem is that since it has no internet connection it can't update when changes happen in real life.
Therefore you have to go and find new and updated maps for it and a lot of them cannot be updated either due to new maps not being released for them anymore or the manufacturers expectation that there aren't enough of those devices in service anymore for a map release to make sense.
Oh I just looked it up and I was way behind on the technology leap those devices did! I was thinking of LCD 3 row displays. Nice to see those are available now!
Those were popular for geocaching before smartphones became ubiquitous and you could just use a geocaching app.
With a regular GPS that has a map you could usually not navigate to a precise off-road location, even if the GPS allowed you to enter the exact coordinates it would just navigate you to the nearest street on the map.
With these simple GPS devices you would just get a compass pointing to your goal and it would allow you to reach the precise coordinates you entered
Here’s one way you could have used it. You drive your car to a remote location. You grab your rifle and your dog, and go hunting. You mark the location of your car on the GPS and start walking. In the evening, you can use the GPS to find your way back to the car. You could also go hiking and use the GPS to find your way back.
The whole point is to mark locations and later find your way back those locations. In the era of geocaching you would have made a custom point of interest and input the coordinates manually before actually visiting the location.
This device actually shows you lots of information you rarely need these days: direction, speed, distance, coordinates, signal strength, just to name a few.
I used it that way when I did desert hikes. Do food and water caches, mark them as waypoints. I would mark them on my topo too of course. Sure was nice on night hikes to pull out a backlit GPS instead of a topo map.